The group leaves the hall and walks down this long, endless corridor. Masamune still does not let go of Toa's hand. His hand was trembling slightly. But Toa does not understand why. Toa senses Masamune's lack of understanding and squeezes it back. The three of them are looking at Masamune in profile. Masamune is not saying anything. But Masamune himself didn't know what to say or how to apologize to the three of them. -- but that's not true. It was Nem and Sufilia who wanted to apologize to Masamune. In particular, Nem wanted to apologize for not being able to protect Toa. Then Masamune sensed Nem and Sufilia's emotions and softly muttered.

'Nem, Sufilia it's my fault, Toa, it's my fault. Don't worry about it. I should have at least used magic and left you as a knight. I'll do that next time.

But now Masamune is afraid to leave Toa. Will there be a "next time"?　It seemed that Masamune had all sorts of thoughts and... I don't know, plans for the future. There was, of course, the Toa, Nem and Sufilia, and there were ideas about how to protect the three of them. The result of that was this time. Masamune was angry with himself for not being stuffy enough.

'I was a fool to trust Leonardo when I knew his face. From that guy's point of view, you can't go against that idiot son...''

But part of the plan included the fact that if something happened, Toa would be able to handle it himself. But after all, Masamune couldn't ask Toa. Masamune was worried that if he heard such a thing, Toa's speech would decrease and he would surely turn over. Just like Vel said, the Toa had become a complete 'stronghold' for Masamune. While walking like this, Masamune is glancing at Toa's cheek and body. I'm worried if there are any other injuries.

'Let's leave the country quickly. No sightseeing. We'll rest in the dungeon today.''

The former Masamune's house in the dungeon is still intact. It has a bed and all the food. Masamune didn't seem to use it much, but he was going to stay there today and leave the country tomorrow.

'That would be wise,'

By agreeing, Sufilia was trying to tell him that Masamune was not wrong. From then on, Masamune did not let go of Toa's hand until they left the castle.
----.



　When they left the royal castle, there was no one there except for the guards on either side of the entrance. Despite the fact that many things had happened, it was still past noon. Without sighing, Masamune and the others looked away from the castle without looking back, and went down the grand staircase that led in front of them. Just as they came to the middle of the stairs, they saw that they were going up the stairs from the opposite side. A certain two figures could be seen coming up the stairs from the opposite side. -- beastmen. It was obvious to Masamune at a glance. The same white cat tribe as Nem, and next to them would be the guards?　I can see pale gray dog ears. Apparently they're Canines, both female.

And that's...

Masamune questioned. Then Sufilia answered.

''It's the cat race and the dog race... but that one...''

Somehow, Sufilia seemed to remember that face. The same white cat race as Nem, pale in appearance, similar to Nem, clear white skin and long silver hair. Nem's hair color was similar, though Nem's was shorter in comparison. And she seems to be wearing a layer of white, translucent lace. The lace seemed mysterious to Masamune as it flowed and fluttered in the wind. And then there were those going down the stairs and those going up. They passed each other and passed by.

'Wait.....'

Then suddenly, those men stopped Masamune and the others. When Masamune turned around, what he saw was the surprised and upset expression of the white cat tribe.

''That one.......Nem? .....

The white cat tribe, wrapped in a mystical race, looked at Nem and asked him as if they knew. But the cat tribe themselves were surprised to see Nem in front of them, as if they were doubting their own words.

'What, Nem, do you know him?　It's like we're of the same white cat tribe...

I don't know anything about it.

Nem pretended to think about it for a bit, but he didn't know. Masamune didn't doubt Nem, but he was uncomfortable with the fact that someone from the same white cat tribe had asked him about it. Rather, it was because he had sensed too deep a sense of sadness and joy from that White Cat tribe woman. --a complex mix of emotions, and Masamune himself couldn't clearly see the state of the woman in front of him. Her expression was weak, as if she was about to cry. His heart is sad along with it. But at the same time, I was happy, and behind it, I also felt a tremendous killing intent, although it might not be towards Nem.

''Excuse me, I believe you are from the White Cat Tribe, but who are you?　Indeed, she is a beast of the white cat tribe called Nem. Could it be that she is from Nem's family?

Masamune has long been curious about Nem's family. Nem says he doesn't know where they live when he asks where they live. When he asks about his parents, he gets a dark look on his face and deflects the conversation, "I don't like it. I had asked that once when I was in Rathhausen, but the Sister at the orphanage advised me that most of the orphans have a dark past and I shouldn't try to force them to dig it out, according to the Sister at the orphanage. Masamune wanted to know since they were about to travel together, but he hadn't asked too much in depth since then. But now, someone from the same white cat tribe as Nem's was staring at him, staring at him as if he knew. For a moment, Masamune wondered if the one in front of him was Nem's family, or so he thought. Then the woman of the White Cat tribe is convinced from Masamune's words that the girl in front of her is Nem.

'Nem!　It's me!　Minerva!　Don't you remember?　We used to play together, didn't we!

Then "Minerva" grabbed Nem's shoulder while saying something incomprehensible. Nem's tail stood up in surprise and confusion at the sight.

Sh!　I don't know!　Who is it?!

Nem doesn't like too much pressure. But Minerva's eyes were filled with tears.

'Hey!　Please calm down for a moment!

Masamune, sensing the unusual situation, intervened and asked for help with his gaze, leaving Minerva to her attendant dog clan.

Lady Minerva, please calm down!　Perhaps there is some confusion in your memory!


(Confused?　Is this about Nem?　What do you mean?　(Are you suggesting that Nem has lost his memory?

But Masamune doesn't understand. Nem seems to remember that he has a mother and father. And he doesn't want to talk about it. So doesn't that mean he has memories of his childhood?　At least that's what Masamune thinks. In other words, if the woman in front of you is a family member, this, Nem's reaction is strange. But if it's amnesia, it makes sense.

''What the hell is this?!

Nem rubbed his suddenly grabbed shoulders and was in a bit of a bad mood. He showed his disgust as he backed up a little behind him.

'Nem!　You don't remember me, do you?　I'm--

Then Masamune interrupts the conversation and steps in between. When I look at it, I see that Nem has expressed his rejection of Minerva. When asked if he doesn't remember, Nem doesn't seem to remember. I'm not going to get anywhere in this situation, so Masamune spoke on Nem's behalf.

''Um, since we're going to be on a parallel track, I want to ask you again, who are you?　You seem to know Nem, but he was an orphan for a while, and he doesn't like to talk much about his childhood.

Then Minerva heard Masamune's words and her expression gradually calmed down.

''--I'm the Beast King.''

Then, Sufilia, who was behind her, muttered this.

''Eh?''

Masamune thought he had heard wrong and tried to swing towards the Sufiria. But then, there was no need to do so. Instead, an attendant, an Inu woman, answered.

'I am sorry I am late. I am Kayu," she said. And in this room is Minerva the Beast King, King of the Beast Kingdom of Neitzart Catarria. I am the King of the Beast Kingdom, Lord Minerva.

....

Masamune was left speechless by the bland, sudden explanation.

''What?　The Beast King?!

Masamune asks back with a dumb look on his face.

'Yes,'

Kayu replied normally to Masamune, who was surprised. Kayu then explained about Nem. It was a question Masamune had asked Nem and had always wanted to know.

''And ... that Nem-sama over there ...''

Kayu herself had some doubts about whether or not it was Nem himself. But for the time being, Kayu put the question aside and continued the conversation to the end.

You'll be able to see that you are the daughter of Serena-sama, Minerva-sama's younger sister,

....

....

....

Masamune, Toa, and Sufilia.......the three of them were speechless, and then slowly looked at Nem's face. But Nem didn't seem to understand what they were talking about, or the situation at all.

''In other words, Nem........''

"Lord Nem is royalty of the Beast Kingdom.

Kayu answers what Masamune was about to say instead.
When Kayu answered that, the three of them stood still with straight faces, while Nem was fuming and comparing their faces.

''Nem... is... royalty?''

It was Nem who muttered that. He too is confused, and then he's trying to wrap his head around what it means.
Then finally calmed down, the distraught Minerva crouches down to the height of Nem's head and softly speaks to Nem.

'I'm sorry ... I'm sorry ... as king, I've blundered on ... your parents ... of Nem. ...killed it.

....

"Did we kill him? .....

Masamune's expression twisted at Minerva's confession. Then he let slip Minerva's words as if to repeat them, but there was no reply. But at that moment, Masamune felt a sadness that seemed to swell and shrink within Nem.

'Nem? .....

Nem is remembering something. Masamune could feel that. Then tears ran down Nem's cheeks. At that moment, the sadness that appeared in Nem's mind swelled up all at once. Then large tears flowed down his cheeks, and Nem wiped the tears again and again, hiding his face with his arms. But even after wiping them away, the tears and sadness flowed out.

-- "I love you........Nem."

For some reason, the words I had forgotten were repeated in Nem's mind.

'I'm sorry Nem........'

Large tears were running down Minerva's cheeks as well. Nem's tears reminded her of the tragedy of that day, and they both shed the same tears, and Minerva hugged Nem in an emotional way. Then, strangely enough, instead of resisting, Nem hugged Minerva back.

'Nem?'

Neither Masamune, Toa, nor Sufilia could understand why. But for Nem, who was still very young at the time, it must have been too painful an event for him to remember. Combined with her young age, Nem slowly erased it from her memory. The events of that day.............................the memory of that moment when his parents were killed in front of him.

'Mimi........'

Nem called out to Minerva, who had tears in her eyes and hugged her.